Pediatric hemorrhagic stroke in southern China: Analysis of 159 cases.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical profiles and outcomes of pediatric patients with hemorrhagic stroke in southern China.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study reviewed the medical records of children hospitalized with hemorrhagic stroke at a tertiary center in southern China. The disability rate was calculated as the proportion of patients with a modified Rankin scale score of 3-5.ResultsA total of 159 children (111 male and 48 female) were included. Prolonged coagulation time and cerebrovascular malformations were the most common etiologies. Disturbance of consciousness was the most frequent presenting symptom, whereas seizures predominated in children younger than 3 years and headache in older children. Computed tomography scans frequently showed temporal, parietal, or frontal lobe hemorrhages, and 60.4% of patients had multisite involvement, which was more prevalent in males. Management included conservative treatment (56.9%), surgery (33.8%), and embolization (9.4%). The mortality rate was 7.6%. Among the 108 survivors with follow-up, 78.7% achieved favorable outcomes (modified Rankin scale ≤2), whereas 21.3% developed disability, most commonly movement disorders.ConclusionsPediatric hemorrhagic stroke in southern China exhibits distinct clinical profiles and varied etiologies. Despite the high rate of favorable outcomes, a substantial proportion of children experience disability, highlighting the need for optimized management strategies.